It is one of the first international aid convoys to the eastern Congolese city that was taken by rebel movement M23 on Tuesday. More than 10,000 people have fled. Paul Borsboom, emergency aid coordinator: “The situation is serious. People have fled their homes and are in urgent need of shelter, clean water, blankets, food and safe refuge.”

The aid convoy will leave Kampala, Uganda, tomorrow. The journey to Goma and the northern town of Butembo will go through 2000 kilometres of rough terrain, crosses two borders and will take around three days. Cordaid will distribute 4,990 family kits to 25,000 people. One kit weighs around 22 kilo’s and contains: tarpaulins 6×4, a mosquito net, blankets, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cooking material and water purification tablets.

In the town of Butembo 1,250 family kits will be handed out by Caritas Congo, a local partner of Cordaid. The majority of the kits are destined for Goma. The 3,750 kits will be distributed by our local partners, Caritas Goma and Caritas Bukavu. These activities are part of a bigger Caritas emergency aid programme that also focuses on food and protection.

Borsboom: “We are prepared for these situations. The cooperation with Caritas Congo enables us to respond in an agile and effective way. The trucks are being loaded as we speak. Meanwhile we continue our regular work in East-Congo, such as improving access to and quality of healthcare.”

Cordaid is part of Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation of 165 Catholic organisations working in humanitarian emergencies and international development.

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Caritas Internationalis is the global confederation of 165 Catholic organisations working on behalf of the poor. It is the arm through which the Church delivers its moral mission to help the most vulnerable and excluded people, whatever their religion or race.